Arriving in India and Travelling to RUCHI
The following information will assist arriving volunteers and visitors in the reaching RUCHI complex.
Delhi's Indira Gandhi Airport is the closest port of entry to RUCHI.
Unless you plan to travel immediately from the airport to RUCHI, you will need to arrange accommodation in Delhi.
Well known guide books such as Lonely Planet and Rough Guide provide accommodation details for all budgets. It is recommended that you book a room in a hotel for the first night that offers an airport pick up.
For movements from Delhi airport to the train station
Pre-paid taxis are the recommended means of travel from the airport to your accommodation or train station. The cost of a taxi (yellow and black) from international airport to New Delhi railway station is about INR 350. There is 25% surcharge on that if the travel is done during 11 PM and 5 AM. There are pre-paid counters at the arrival hall (one immediately once through customs, after the passage through green or red channel and the other one outside the arrival hall). Pre-paid taxi booths are located inside and outside of the airport arrival hall (look for the signs). I prefer the outside one and there is no cheating at these pre-paid counters. Ignore the drivers around you saying they can drive you cheaper or faster because often these drivers will take you to a friend's hotel saying your one burnt down!
New Delhi train station is about 45 minutes ride from the airport.
Reaching the RUCHI campus will not be straightforward for first time volunteers and visitors, as the small village of Bandh in which RUCHI is located is not widely known, However the nearby towns of Chandigarh and Kalka are along main road and rail transport routes, and can easily be reached by bus or train. RUCHI staff can then pick you up from either of these towns, on request and at your cost, and transport you to the RUCHI complex.
Travelling all the way to the RUCHI
Below is a map to assist those people confident in travelling all the way to the RUCHI complex themselves. There are frequent buses travelling north to Kalka/Solan/Shimla etc., leaving from the Chandigarh bus station. There are two main options:
1. Take a bus north, and exit at Parwanoo. Then catch another bus to Patta. From Patta you can catch another bus to Bandh and RUCHI, but these buses are less frequent. It is 5km from Patta to Bandh, and the RUCHI complex is a further 1km along the road.
2. Take a bus north, and exit at Pinjore. Take a bus/taxi to Barotiwala, and from here catch a bus to Patta. Then as in 1. above.
Attractions
Places to visit in the Environs of RUCHI If you have any free time whilst at RUCHI, you may wish to have a look at some of these places of interest. They are all accessible using our trusty bus services. When visiting Shimla and Chail, it's probably best to spend the night at Shimla or Solan, and it's probably advisable to spend a night at Chandigarh to take advantage of your visit.
SABATHU
- A very good bazaar covering most shopping needs.
- The Gurkha Army Complex - but watch any stray bullets!
- An excellent dhaba at the bottom of the bazaar on the left . It's run by a Nepalese family and they serve excellent omelettes and Momos. It's a tiny little establishment with a green door.
- Post Office and some banking facilities.
- Very good internet connection - at the top of the bazaar on the left. Only about 25 rupees for an hour.
KASAULI
- A decent bazaar with some touristy shops.
- Walk up to Monkey Point and its picnic site.
- Internet connection although it's a tad slow and pricey.
- Attractive woods for walking.